The Daley Administration defended its decision not to close Lake Shore Drive earlier during the major winter storm late Tuesday that dumped more than 20 inches of snow on Chicago and generated winds in excess of 50 m.p.h. During a late afternoon press conference on Wednesday, Raymond Oroz

Chicagoans began surveying the damage and digging out of the neighborhoods this morning, even as the flakes keep falling.In the Pilsen neighborhood on the city's southwest side, drifts are waist deep in some places along the unplowed side streets, the snow blanketing cars, just the antennas peeking

Local forecasters are calling predicted inclement weather "The Big One." To prepare for the winter storm, Eight Forty-Eight compiled a sampling of what local and even national meteorologists are saying about Snowmageddon 2011.Sampled forecasts include those provided by Tim McGill